Simon Poideven backs Michael Cheika to coach Waratahs
Michael Cheika has some high profile backers for the vacant coaching role with the Waratahs. Picture: John Fotiadis
Source: The Daily Telegraph
FORMER Wallaby captain Simon Poidevin has strongly endorsed Michael Cheika as the next Waratahs coach following Michael Foley's decision to quit.
After a woeful season that saw
chairman Ed Zemancheff stand down on Monday night, the
Waratahs spring continued yesterday morning when Foley tendered in his resignation.
The 45-year-old is set to take the head coach role of the Western Force in coming days, after the desperate Perth outfit upped a three-year offer to a deal that will keep Foley in Perth until the end of 2016.
The Waratahs are now hunting another coach and Cheika - who rejected the Force last month - is a firm favourite.
Though often spuriously linked with Australian coaching roles, Cheika finally appears set for a return home.
The former Randwick forward, who coached Leinster to a Heineken Cup win in 2009, has been interviewed by Waratahs officials twice and has the support of influential NSW rugby figures, including Poidevin.
"Michael Cheika is the game changer that this organisation needs to sort out their culture, their leadership and their direction,'' Poidevin said.
"He's got an excellent track record, both with results and ability to manage players.
"The culture he built at Leinster, from an organisation that was in the backwaters to what it is now, it is a great case study to what can be done. Guys like (Brian) O'Driscoll loved playing under Michael's leadership. I don't think you can get a better statement or acknowledgement of what he did there.''
After the worst ever season for the Tahs - in which they finished with four wins and 12 losses - Foley initially had the backing of the Waratahs' board to keep coaching, although players were split.
But the sudden departure of manager Chris Webb two weeks ago irked Foley, and its understood a proposal last week to make Alan Gaffney director of rugby in 2013 wasn't to be put to the board for another 20 days.
Whether intentional or not by Tahs directors, Foley's hand was forced. His departure adds to a remarkable NSW exodus from only six months ago; with the chairman, coach, manager and captain (Rocky Elsom) now gone, and marquee signing Sarel Pretorius long odds to stay.
Ironically, Gaffney could still play a key role in 2013 under a Cheika-led team. The pair coached together at Leinster in 2009 and remain tight. Former NSW skipper Chris Whitaker, who was Cheika's manager/assistant at Leinster and at Stade Francais, could also be on his staff.
Poidevin said a important Cheika philosophy was engaging with rugby's grassroots, which he believes the Tahs have neglected badly.
"That has been a major criticism of mine about the Waratahs culture. They've put up a moat around Moore Park which is highly detrimental to the team's perception, and that comes from the attitude of the administration and the coaching staff,'' Poidevin said.
"There is so much anger and frustration out there among rugby followers. We have the opportunity here to have one of the great rugby franchises in the competition but it just hasn't happened.
"Going forward we can't let that be the case, because it permeates right down through the game, through the clubs and through the juniors. The Tahs' performance, its culture and the style of their engagement has been a major problem for the whole game.''
